Michal Kwiatkowski: "Only Tony Martin can do such things"

interview13.07.2014Stage 9- Gérardmer / Mulhouse

Best young rider.

"I'm very happy, especially for Tony [Martin]. He helped me a lot yesterday. He motivated me when I had a hard time. He spent a lot of energy at my service and yet, he was able to do what he did today. It's amazing. Only Tony Martin can do such things. We were kind of laughing in the peloton when we heard that he only had thirty seconds lead but it was enough for him to beat his chasers. Tomorrow, we have seven mountain tops with the Planche des belles filles to finish. I know it from a recognition one month ago. I will fight for GC. I understand that Romain Bardet is motivated for taking the white jersey from me but I'll fight."

For the first time, Tony Martin has won a different stage than a time trial at the Tour de France but it looked like a time trial as he used the mid mountains stage in the Vosges to ride away with Alessandro De Marchi for 90 kilometres and solo for 59 kilometres! It was an enormous exploit by the German world champion for time trial but not the only amazing achievement of this eventful day as Frenchman Tony Gallopin took over from Vincenzo Nibali in the overall lead.